Coakley Presses Court To Suspend DiMasi’s Pension

Former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is set to return to court for a hearing that will determine whether he loses his state pension following his conviction on federal corruption charges.

The state’s Retirement Board is asking a Suffolk Superior Court judge to allow it to vote to suspend DiMasi’s pension until a federal appeals court rules on his challenge to last month’s verdict. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

A motion filed by the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley says the board hopes to put all scheduled payments in escrow until all appeals are exhausted.

Treasurer Steve Grossman says this will protect taxpayer money because payments to DiMasi have already exceeded the amount he put in the fund.

DiMasi’s attorney, Thomas Kiley, says payments should not be stopped or suspended until a final verdict is reached.